Haphephobia: the fear of being touched.
Blake, a second-year Psychology student, hadn't ever heard of such a phobia, until the day he was hired as a guide for Dean, the heir of a rich family.
Even though Dean had the appearance and behaviour of a ge...
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- It's my birthday.
- I know.
- It's my birthday.
- I heard you the first seventy-three times.
- It's my birthday.
Adam groaned, pressing the tare button on the scale with a bit more force than necessary. Collin didn't hide his amusement at his supervisor's frustration, and the fun was shared with Jane, who failed to stifle her smile.
- Just wish him a happy birthday.
Ignoring his colleague's advice, Adam scoffed, grabbing the aluminium foil that carried the white powder and extending his hand to Collin, without looking at him. The intern knew Adam wanted the container he had been holding, but decided to hold on to it. Only when the supervisor turned to face him did Collin hand it over, making sure to have a boyish smile on.
Adam rolled his eyes as he grabbed the plastic object, but the intern knew that tiny tug at those lips too well to be fooled.
Collin had been excused for the internship that day, but he hadn't wanted to waste the opportunity to have Adam wish him a happy birthday even at the cost of having to work. He had entered the laboratory and discreetly hinted at it being his birthday – by announcing it out loud. Unlike Jane, Adam hadn't had the common grace of congratulating the birthday boy. Collin took offense to it for a few minutes before he discovered how much repetition got on Adam's nerves.
- I'm going to the laminar flow chamber. - Jane approached the balcony, placing one last labelled jar on the tray. – Do you want me to do something for you?
Adam stopped what he was doing, glancing over Collin's shoulder to the woman.
- You don't mind?
- Of course not. What do you need?
The doctorate student grabbed his notebook, not-so-accidentally bumping Collin's shoulder with it as he extended it.
And I'm the kid.
- The calculations are all done. I've already put the material aside; over there.
Jane nodded, putting the notebook under her arm and moving the tray to the other balcony to pick up the material. Collin followed her to help, not wasting the opportunity to nudge Adam as he passed.
